My wife and I recently had a chance to visit Blue Cork Winery in Williamstown. They continue to add seating and aesthetic touches in the Barrel Room, while the outdoor area is blanketed with attractive white vinyl picnic tables and chairs, ready for warmer weather. Meanwhile Blue Cork continues to make a wide range of dry white and red wines (especially red). With that in mind, my wife and I decided to try a few flights and some charcuterie.
The Wine
White Flight
- Sauvignon Blanc-a tasty version with tropical notes of mango, pineapple, and grapefruit.
- 2019 French Oak Chardonnay– A good, gently oaked version with apple and vanilla notes.
- Cabernet Franc Rose-Nice pale salmon color, with strawberry and cherry notes.
Red Flight
- 2019 Blue Cork Red-A nice red with dark cherry and plum notes.
- 2019 Merlot-a smooth version with plum and blackberry notes.
- 2019 Petit Verdot-A deep hued red with bold notes of blackberry and blueberry.
Reserve Flight
- 2020 Cabernet Franc-A tasty version with raspberry and strawberry notes on the palate.
- 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon-A good Cab with cherry and blackberry notes.
- 2019 Williamstown Reserve-A very good Bordeaux-style red blend named for their home town.
Charcuterie
To accompany our wine flights, we ordered a nice board filled with meats, cheeses, crackers, and sweet pickles. Since we knew we’d be eating dinner in a couple of hours, this was just the right amount and perfect pairing with our wine. Sorry, no photo). We brought home a couple of their wines, shown below from left to right: Blue Cork Red and Sauvignon Blanc.
We enjoyed our visit. It was very relaxing and just what we needed. We will definitely be back once the weather turns and we can enjoy the outdoors with vineyard views. Special thanks to our host, Blue Cork Winery owner, Angelo Tantaros.
Snouts & Stouts Brewing
Earlier in the day on Friday, my wife and I visited Snouts and Stouts in Hammonton. We have been wanting to visit for awhile-wondering about the name and intrigued because we both really enjoy stouts. This brewery has only been open for about a month or so. The previous owner was Vinyl Brewing, housed on the same premises.
Sampler #1
- Alfies IPA-Hazy IPA with Cashmere and Galaxy hops (6.5% ABV). Very tasty IPA.
- Hound Dog Hop Bomb-Hazy IPA with Citra and Galaxy hops (8.0% ABV). My favorite in the sampling here. Excellent IPA with a surprising punch, given how smooth it is.
- Wagging Tail Pale Ale-An easy drinking Pale Ale made with Columbus, Cascade, and Citra hops.
- Treats Golden Stout– Brewed with peanut butter, cinnamon, and vanilla. 7.0% ABV.
Sampler #2
- Fens Stout-Classic style Stout (5.0% ABV).
- Treats-Golden Stout-brewed with peanut butter, cinnamon, and vanilla. 7.0% ABV. The best of the Stouts (IMHO).
- Wet Snout Chocolate Cherry Stout-Brewed with Chilaca and cherry. Good, but might be better with more chocolate and less cherry.
- Cujo Sour Stout-Imperial Kettle Soured Stout-Just a bit too sour for me.
We enjoyed our visit and plan on returning in the near future.
Coming Attractions
- Working Dog Winery Winter 2025
- Cape May Winery Winter 2025
- Hawk Haven Vineyards Spring Preview Tasting
- Old York Cellars Spring 2025
- Plagido’s Winery Spring 2025
- Annata Wine Bar Spring 2025
- Ready to Drink Cocktails
- Some New NJ Wines of the Week
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